The china used by the First Families—at the White House and in their private residences—sheds a light on trends in taste, style, and modes of entertaining as they have evolved in the United States. This book features color photographs of more than 200 rare items in the Robert L. McNeil Jr., Collection, including George Washington’s white and gold Sèvres porcelain that he purchased from a French diplomat recalled at the outbreak of the French Revolution; John F. Kennedy’s understated Wedgwood creamware used at his Georgetown home; and a plate with a fly fishing bait motif designed for Jimmy Carter. Susan Gray Detweiler examines the significance and tradition of presidential china, while the photographs' captions provide the dimensions, characteristics, and ownership history of the objects.